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Putting the Frighteners on the Romans
Blue painted Ancient Britons strike fear amongst the Romans.
Simon MacDowall
Apr 22, 20242 min read


A little bit of everything
Magnesia (189 BC) is the classical ancient battle that offers a little bit of everything. You get Roman legions, pike phalanxes,...
Simon MacDowall
Apr 10, 20242 min read


Ilipa reversed
The Society of Ancients Battle Day was a huge success with a dozen games refighting the decisive clash between Romans and Carthaginians...
Simon MacDowall
Mar 25, 20243 min read


Men and horses in glistening armour
After the Society of Ancients Ilipa Battle Day (this coming weekend) I rather fancy pitting my 6 mil Romans up against the Seleucids....
Simon MacDowall
Mar 20, 20241 min read


Almost Ilipa
With the Society of Ancients Ilipa Battle Day only a couple of weeks away it was time for a final test game with my 6 mil Carthaginians...
Simon MacDowall
Mar 5, 20243 min read


Jacobite joy followed by tears
Having raised the highland clans we gathered yesterday to re-fight Falkirk Muir (1746) with the aim of restoring the rightful King James...
Simon MacDowall
Mar 2, 20242 min read


Pavia 499 years on
Today, just three days after the 499th anniversary of the Battle of Pavia (24 Feb 1525), the French and Imperialists meet again. This...
Simon MacDowall
Feb 27, 20242 min read


'Alala! is launched
My rules for Greek Hoplite battles have now been published by the Society of Ancients. They are available from the Society website here....
Simon MacDowall
Feb 24, 20241 min read


Aethelwulf's Revenge
The British leaders were feeling confident and perhaps a little cocky after their previous Dux Britanniarum victory over the Saxons in...
Simon MacDowall
Feb 19, 20243 min read


Battle of Brothers
Following their defeat Somewhere in Spain, the Scipio Brothers (Gneaus and Publius) manage to withdraw in relatively good order to...
Simon MacDowall
Jan 21, 20243 min read


The Treasure of Caer Colun
The Saxons, raiding deep into British held Caer Colun, stole the treasures of Praefectus Firmum Coquus but had to bury the loot in order...
Simon MacDowall
Jan 18, 20242 min read


Somewhere in Spain 3rd C BC
It is finally time for my 6 mil Romans and Carthaginians to fight it out on the games table. I am also testing out changes to Legio VI...
Simon MacDowall
Dec 10, 20232 min read


Small Recruits for Carthage
I have now completed the four units of 6mm Spanish scutarii I need for my Carthaginian army. Recruited for the Society of Ancients Ilipa...
Simon MacDowall
Dec 1, 20232 min read


Downsizing
Over the past few years I have been playing with the big kids. Now I am revisiting my 6 mil ancients. My motivation is the Society of...
Simon MacDowall
Nov 17, 20232 min read


Stoke Field
Stoke Field (1487) is a most unusual and interesting battle, and the last engagement of the Wars of the Roses. After Bosworth the 10 year...
Simon MacDowall
Nov 13, 20233 min read


The Prussians are Coming!
I know very little about the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 but I recently had the pleasure of playing the Prussians at a game of the...
Simon MacDowall
Nov 9, 20231 min read


The Last Yorkists
Stoke Field (1487) was the last attempt by the Yorkists to regain the throne of England. These figures are also the last Yorkists I...
Simon MacDowall
Nov 8, 20231 min read


The Wild Irish
Next Sunday I shall be staging the last battle of the Wars of the Roses — Stoke Field (1487). Around 4000 Irish, led by Sir Thomas...
Simon MacDowall
Nov 5, 20231 min read


Society of Ancients Convention 2023
After a false start due to local flooding I managed to make it to the Society of Ancients Convention at Madingley Hall, Cambridge. With...
Simon MacDowall
Oct 23, 20231 min read


Battle in the Mist
At Barnet in the early hours of 14 April 1471, King Edward IV led his army through a thick mist to attack the Earl of Warwick’s...
Simon MacDowall
Oct 12, 20233 min read
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